A comic book, but a librarian

"Well, let's go back and have a good rest first, and then explain to them what happened."

Uesugi Cheng returned to his small apartment, set his phone to do not disturb, plugged it into the charger, and then turned up the volume to play soothing music. Amid the beautiful pure music, he first drank a glass of [Mist Kiss Water] on the table, then closed his eyes.

[Mist-kissed Water]: The faintest mist still floats on the water. (February 2, 2 Winter, 1 Heart)

The faint purple-gray mist made the color of the water a little darker, but when the water entered Uesugi Cheng's mouth, he felt a subtle sense of sleep. He didn't even draw the curtains and fell asleep with his eyes closed.

Wrapped in gauze, the marks left by scabs on the densely packed wounds were fading rapidly, and the fair and smooth skin looked as if it had never been injured. The slow breathing and flowing music made the whole room extremely peaceful.

Until a rapid ring of the phone, Uesugi Cheng was lying peacefully in his dream, as soft and comfortable as a velvet quilt covering his body. He opened his eyes reluctantly. It was another evening. The orange sunlight shone through the window onto the floor in front of him. Perhaps he had slept too long. He even felt that his body was extremely relaxed and he had some strength.

The sound of the doorbell was getting more and more urgent. Uesugi Sumiko threw the gauze wrapped around his arm into the trash can and closed the lid. He scratched his hair and went to open the door. As expected, standing outside the door was Shizuka Hiratsuka, who had a unfriendly look on her face and was holding a cigarette. She now looked like veins on her forehead were bulging, especially when she saw Uesugi Sumiko running out to open the door lazily.

"Why didn't you come to school yesterday? You didn't even tell me!!"

The sound of his fist hitting the wall next to him showed that Hiratsuka Shizuka was definitely a martial artist, but Uesugi Sumika did not react to it. After all, he was not the one who felt the pain from hitting the wall, and even the landlord might not feel sorry for the wall, so there was no need for him to react any further.

“You should at least tell me. Do you know how worried I was as a teacher yesterday? And Yotsuya-san…you wouldn’t…”

Hiratsuka Shizuka's eyes became sharp, while Uesugi Sumiko's face remained expressionless.

"I was painting yesterday... I worked on it all day. The old principal knows about it, why don't you go ask her? As for Yotsuya-san, why don't you ask her directly?"

"You kid... next time if you really can't come to school, at least tell me in advance, I'm afraid..."

"What do you have to be afraid of? If anything goes wrong, the responsibility will not be on you." Uesugi Sumire even yawned, looking like he deserved a beating, which made Hiratsuka Shizuka itchy.

"Okay, okay, I just hope you didn't do anything dangerous. And then there's another thing... Uesugi-san, I want to ask you a question. Do you know the rumor that's been circulating recently?"

Chapter 33 New Commission

"What rumor? Do you think this is some American TV show? (Mythbusters)" Uesugi Sumiko invited Hiratsuka Shizuka in. This was also the first time that Hiratsuka Shizuka entered the room of an adolescent boy.

What surprised her was that Uesugi Sumika's room was not so much tidy as it was empty. There were almost no decorations, and the overall decoration made it look as if a person with no desires lived here. The only thing that seemed to have traces of life, apart from the kitchen, was probably the paints and white paper piled on a table.

"I'm sorry, I'm just staying here for a while, and I only have this kind of tea. If you don't mind, please have some." Uesugi Sumiko took out a box of tea leaves from the cabinet under the table, grabbed a handful and stuffed it into the teapot. There was no tea ceremony or technique. After pouring boiling hot water into the teapot and waiting for a while, he took out two cups, scalded the cups with the first brew of tea, and served tea to Hiratsuka Shizuka.

"I don't really mind...Will you really not feel lonely living here?"

"How could that be? I have so many friends here with me." Uesugi Sumiya's tone was unusually gentle when he said this, and it sounded like a whisper. Hiratsuka Shizuka's body tensed up and she shuddered for some reason. She looked at Uesugi Sumiya and found that his eyes seemed a little empty. Even after their eyes met, Uesugi Sumiya smiled at her strangely.

"........What is the rumor you just told?"

Hiratsuka Shizuka woke up as if from a dream. The strange expression she just saw seemed like a mirage. She looked at Uesugi Sumiko, who looked no different from usual but looked a little bit like he deserved a beating, and she felt relieved.

"It's like this. Recently there's been a rumor in our grade...that some students are doing part-time jobs that the school doesn't allow. What are you looking at like that? I'm talking about you! What happened to you is nothing. Your brother has already informed me about it." Shizuka Hiratsuka felt her blood pressure rising when she saw Uesugi Sumika's eyes that said 'are you sure you want to ask me this?' She now completely put aside the uneasiness she had just felt, folded her arms around her chest, and adjusted her posture against the back of the sofa.

"Generally speaking, rumors like this are just hearsay, and they will disappear in two days. But this time is different... They seem to have really seen someone going to places that high school students shouldn't go to to work part-time, so I asked you if you knew."

"Does LIVE HOUSE count?"

"I'm a big shot. As long as you don't drink, who cares? The owner of the store is more afraid of you students going there to drink!"

Shizuka Hiratsuka clenched her fists. She now deeply experienced the invisible aggressiveness of language. Even though the other party had no ill intentions at all, she still felt her anger rising.

"Then I don't know. You can't expect someone like me to pay attention to what happens between classmates, right?"

Uesugi Sumiko smiled slightly and spread out his hands. Hiratsuka Shizuka vaguely felt that one of Uesugi Sumiko's arms seemed to be too white, just like the skin of a newborn baby, but she didn't think much about it and continued.

"Yes, but I think you are very suitable for doing one thing... I hope you can help me figure out what is going on. If there really is such a student, I hope to find him and resolve this matter before the rumor spreads."

"To be honest, I don't think your idea is a good one. After all, even if someone really takes the risk, he must have his own reasons. If you can't find the right remedy, it's meaningless and may only make things worse. However, your request..."

Uesugi Cheng stretched out his hand and stared at Hiratsuka Shizuka, making the latter a little confused.

"Money, have you ever seen a farmer who only lets oxen plow the fields without giving them grass to eat? There are carrots hanging in front of the mules while they work. You don't want me to work for nothing, do you?"

Shizuka Hiratsuka felt that she had not suffocated. Perhaps it was because she had been a teacher for the past few years that her mentality had improved a lot. She had thousands of words to say but only a sigh remained on her lips.

"How much do you want..."

"Please pay a deposit to show your strength. I'll settle the payment based on how much I can find out later." Uesugi Sumiya looked very experienced. Hiratsuka Shizuka felt that this man had definitely done this more than once.

"Okay, okay... You are much more dishonest than that guy Hikigaya, alas..." Hiratsuka Shizuka put a large bill in Uesugi Sumika's hand, and then saw that he put it away unconsciously as if it was a magic trick.

"Well, I'll investigate based on your needs. Anything else?"

"...I'm a little curious about your paintings..." Shizuka Hiratsuka thought about it and said it out loud. Although it was indeed inappropriate to say such things out loud, Shizuka Hiratsuka was still curious about the paintings of the talented painter who could conquer almost everyone.

"The studio is over there, please feel free to come in, but please don't touch it." Uesugi Sumika pointed to a room with a closed door. Hiratsuka Shizuka nodded and walked into the room.

"Such a strange rumor... Why didn't Jing hand it over to that troublesome black-haired straight-haired girl Yukinoshita? Or did she hedge her bets? She's really risking a lot."

Uesugi Sumiko muttered to himself as he put the large bill into his pocket. Most of the paintings in the studio were works he drew when his inspiration overflowed. Most of them had no theme, composition or intention. They were just temporary inspirations using great techniques. They were all meaningless failures, so it wouldn't matter to Hiratsuka Shizuka seeing them.

"To be honest, I'm beginning to understand why they all evaluate you like that..." Shizuka Hiratsuka looked a little dizzy when she walked out. She held her forehead and tried to make herself more awake. She looked very tired.

"You're not going to lift the white cloth that covers it, are you?"

"Those paintings are some kind of forbidden works, right... I didn't know that I would have thought you had added some kind of illegal drug powder here, using the smell to corrupt people or something."

Shizuka Hiratsuka shook her head vigorously to try to explain that she was actually fine, but her body seemed unwilling to cooperate, so Uesugi Sumiko could only follow her words and send her out of the house.

"Oh, it still needs to be burned. How could I have forgotten that those things should be thrown away?"

Uesugi Cheng walked into the studio. The white cloth of one of the paintings had been lifted and there was a small label on the easel.

"'Hell Transformation', I should have stopped reading those novels... In the end, they only cause trouble for me."

The hideous scenes of hell on the screen give people a feeling of being there, as if the painter had really seen the living hell. However, as the author, Uesugi Sumiya was not satisfied at all.

"I'll draw another one later. It still looks too rough now."

Chapter 34: School History is also a Kind of Secret History

"Finally back to the daily life of the school... Yo good morning Hikigaya."

Uesugi Cheng leaned back in his chair, yawning, and greeted Hikigaya who was sitting next to him.

"Things over there..."

"It's over. Jianzi-san is fine now."

Uesugi Sumiko gently pointed at Yotsuya Miko who was chatting happily over there. She now looked like an ordinary young female high school student. It was hard to imagine that she was the girl with yin-yang eyes who was frightened and threatened by various evil spirits every day.

"Speaking of which, how did you do it? No one asked me about my absence for the entire day... Although it seems that if I didn't go to school for a day, probably no one would ask me where I went." Hikigaya had a hint of helplessness on his face.

"If I really want to ask, I will definitely ask. After all, there are not many assistants who can help these days."

Uesugi Sumire's words made Hikigaya Hachiman stunned for a moment, and then he spoke with a cold face.

"I don't think boys need to say that."

"Okay, come to think of it... have you heard about the recent rumor?"

"It's probably about a student doing part-time work outside the school that is not allowed, right? Did Jing tell you that?"

Hikigaya Hachiman and Uesugi Sumire suddenly smiled in relief, and their smiles contained a kind of mockery towards Hiratsuka Shizuka.

"But it doesn't look like a serious matter, otherwise it would have spread all over the place. You just need to deal with it. Jing has paid for this business, and I can't let the customer pay but not enjoy the service she should have."

Uesugi Cheng looks a little lazy, but what he says is completely different.

"I don't mind. After all, Jing has found me a lot of trouble. But there is no such possibility for Yukinoshita. She is also a very... troublesome person."

Hikigaya sighed. When he thought of Yukinoshita Yukino's invisible verbal attacks on him, he wanted to escape from the Service Club, even if it meant following Uesugi Sumire to do commissions together.

"You don't look like the type to stand by and watch. Whatever, what are you going to do in gym class later?"

"It seems like... tennis class, we have to divide into groups again... it's annoying."

Hikigaya Hachiman's dead eyes appeared again at some point. He felt annoyed when he thought about the tennis class being divided into groups and the high probability that Uesugi Sumire would be taken away by Yotsuya Miko, and he would have to be alone. Although he didn't mind playing tennis alone against the wall.

As for why he said that Yotsuya Miko would definitely take Uesugi Sumire away, Hikigaya Hachiman was at least able to observe people's expressions. Although Yotsuya Miko seemed to be hiding well, it was impossible for her to disguise her glances from time to time. It seemed that even her best friend had vaguely sensed that something was wrong.

"Play tennis, can you come back first? I don't really want to play that kind of thing..."

Compared to playing tennis, Uesugi Cheng prefers to practice fighting and the use of cold weapons alone on training dummies in the training ground of Silent Bookstore. More importantly, he has a book on his research agenda, and he also wants to understand the contents of the book as soon as possible.

"Perugia Diary": In 1907, the eighteen-year-old Christopher Iliopoli left the Strathcoine mansion and studied theology at the University of Perugia in Italy under the name "Christopher Strathcoine".

This is the diary that Christopher, the fourth manager of Silent Bookstore, kept during his college years. It contains many of his early works and his research on various ancient folk songs.

"Ah, it's an ancient book again this time, it's amazing." Hikigaya said sincerely. He would rather stay in the Service Club and be criticized by Yukinoshita than read this kind of book that is written entirely in English and in handwriting.

"Go and get ready for class." Uesugi Cheng put the book away. Christopher's research on ballads contained some relevant knowledge of great techniques, and what he had to do now was to summarize these fragmented knowledge from the book and turn it into his own knowledge.

Sure enough, when the teacher announced the start of grouping in the physical education class, Yotsuya Miko found Uesugi Sumire in the inexplicably relieved eyes of Yurikawa Hana.

"Um... I have something I want to tell you. Let's go over there and talk while we play ball."

Two people stood on both sides of the net. Instead of hitting the ball, they started chatting across the net.

"For what happened last time...I really don't know how to thank you enough."

"Nothing. You don't feel like you're being targeted now, do you? According to the girl, the mountain god is the god of fate, so I transferred the fate."

"Hey, wait, could it be that!!"

Yotsuya Miko spoke louder subconsciously. She looked at Uesugi Sumiko's bracelet and a look of self-blame appeared on her face.

"What are you thinking about? This is my own choice. It has nothing to do with you. Besides, that guy's appetite is far from small. Sooner or later, he will continue to attack. So I must find a way to deal with him as soon as possible, or at least seal him."

Uesugi Cheng touched his bracelet. Even in the cold room, the bracelet exuded unexpected warmth. However, the price behind this warmth might not be something that ordinary people could afford.

"I will help you, just like you helped me! If there is anything I can do, please call me!"

Yotsuya Miko looked at Uesugi Sumire seriously, and their hands were clasped together again, as if they had signed some kind of contract.

"Come to think of it, that Hikigaya guy isn't very stable."

"Hey, is he alone?"

Yotsuya Miko was extremely sensitive to gazes. The moment she and Hikigaya's eyes met, she looked away and then noticed another gaze that was looking in her direction.

"Hmm, this is a strange situation..."

The pink-haired classmate was actually secretly observing Uesugi Sumire. Yotsuya Miko shook her head. It seemed that the person in front of her, although not aware of it, was actually much more popular than Yotsuya Miko had imagined.

"Call me if there's anything that happens or if there's something that can't be solved. I'll go talk to Hikigaya."

After saying this, Uesugi Sumiya left in a hurry. He suddenly thought of something. Perhaps Hikigaya would know a little more than others.

"What, you said...Shouldn't this kind of thing be the favorite topic of discussion among small circles? Why do you come and ask me?" Hikigaya stared at Uesugi Sumika with his dead fish eyes, as if there was really a dead fish questioning the angler.

"You said it as if I could fit into those small circles...So, do you know how to integrate the incongruous parts of the school history?"

Chapter 35: Surprise

"Ah, now that you mention this...I actually know a little bit."

Hikigaya suddenly laughed. Unified High School had a long history, and a thick book about the school history had been compiled. The last time he opened it was when Hikigaya was dragged along to look for information.

"If I really want to say, it was probably when our old principal was still in school...At that time, Unified High School seemed to be just a small school."

"It's as if you really witnessed the integration at that time." Uesugi Cheng grinned, and Hikigaya also smiled self-deprecatingly.

"Maybe it's because I have more of that kind of imagination."

"Forget it. I'll continue. Although it's also written in that useless school history book, a big event happened in Unification at that time. It was said that five people in a class disappeared. No one knew where they went or whether they were dead or alive. The police and school administrators couldn't find any clues no matter how hard they searched. It was as if they disappeared out of thin air... This incident caused a lot of uproar at the time. I can even find some reports on the Internet now. Someone really had so much free time to open a webpage specifically for this incident to post those reports."

Hikigaya shook his mobile phone. The pure black background page made people feel uncomfortable at first glance, as if it was a tomb designed for the dead. What caught his eye was the report on But.

"So, did you tell Ah Jing about this......"

"Don't think too much about it. It's really nothing. I just want to know. Oh, it looks like someone is looking for you. How about..."

Uesugi Sumire originally wanted to give the space to the person who was looking for Hikigaya Hachiman, but the white-haired male classmate came too quickly, and he simply sat down before he had time to leave.

The male classmate who looked very much like a female was called Totsuka Ayaka. To be honest, Uesugi Sumiko found that he seemed to have neglected getting to know his classmates so much that he didn't even recognize such an iconic male classmate.

"Um... the person who's usually in my group has asked for leave today, so I hope to be in a group with Hikigaya-kun today."

Uesugi Sumire glanced at Yotsuya Miko, who was already happily chatting with Yurikawa Hana and didn't look like she was going to play either, so he decided to learn from Hikigaya's good style and hit the ball against the wall.

"In that case, Ayaka-san, would you mind if you could form a group of three?"

Hikigaya Hachiman gave a wicked smile and grabbed Uesugi Sumire who was about to leave.

"Are you sure?" Uesugi Cheng responded with a narrowed smile, looking very kind.

Hikigaya's tennis level is unexpectedly high, and Uesugi Sumire can only rely on his physical fitness to suppress Hikigaya. His understanding of tennis is basically what was taught in class, and he has never even practiced it. Naturally, Hikigaya Hachiman became the object of Uesugi Sumire's study.